Feed water system for steam irons



Jan. 20, 1953 R. o. sTEvENsoN ETAL 2,625,755

FEED WATER SYSTEMVJVFOR STEAM IRONS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed June 6. 1947S R/ Q/ Nw wN n .mi NN Jan. 20, 1953 R. ofs'rEvENsoN ET AL 2,625,756

FEED WATER SYSTEM FOR STEAM IRONS Filed June 6, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Z/.24) Zig /l/ Patented Jan. 20, 1953 FEED WATER SYSTEB FOR STEAM IRONSRobert O. Stevenson, Philadelphia, and Charles Roger Turner, SpringiieldTownship, Montgomery County, Pa., assignors to Proctor Electric Company,Philadephia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 6,1947, Serial No. 753,076

This invention relates to steam irons, and more particularly to the typeof combination dry and steam iron which is shown and described in the(so-pending application of Stevenson et al., Serial No. 708,774 filedNovember 8, 1946.

In steam irons of this class, wherein water is supplied from an externalsource, such as an attached or built-in reservoir, the water is fed to achamber in the sole plate and iiashed almost instantly into steam.Certain prior irons, of this class which rely on gravity or other forcesto Supply the Water to the steam chamber, have been generallyunsatisfactory in that the flow of water is not even, but rather isspasmodic and irregular. This has resulted in inadequate steam supply tothe fabric being ironed and has presented a problem with respect tomaintenance of satisfactory steam pressure. In these prior irons, theiiow of water to the steam chamber has often been affected by the surgesin pressure in the steam chamber frequently backing up the water in thefeed tubes from the reservoir.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved construction to supply a small and uniform water flow, undergravtational forces, from a reservoir to a steaming chamber in a steamiron.

Another problem in the intermittent flow of 'Water to the steamingchamber is that of insuring that the water from a reservoir will startto flow after the iron has been used as a dry iron for some time. Oftenwhen the water is admitted into the tubes from the reservoir, the tubeshave attained such a temperature. as to vaporize the Water before itreaches the steam chamber. This steam generation in the tubes restrainsthe flow of water to the steam chamber, resulting again in uneven andinadequate steam production in the steam chamber.

.Another object -of this invention then is to provide a feed watersystem that will allow im-.

been designed with evaporation plates which were yremovalole from thesole plate as a large 7 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) screw-threaded section. Theprecipitated salts and minerals have acted as a bonding agent tosecurely hold the removable plug and sole plate together. This hasrendered difficult the cleaning of the iron and of otherwise servicingit.

It is, therefore, a further object of this invention to provide anew andvnovel method of securing the clean-out plug in a steam iron to alloweasy cleaning and servicing.

Other objects and features of the invention will be made apparent fromthe following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a miniature side elevational view of a steam iron constructedaccording to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a part elevational and part sectional view of the iron, thesectional illustration being taken longitudinal of the ironsubstantially along the longitudinal axis thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken along line 3 3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sole plate portion of the iron with theupper parts of the iron removed, showing more clearly the structureprovided by the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a bottom View of the sole plate;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the removable plug which is provided inaccordance 'with the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged` sectional illustration of a part'of the structureprovided by the invention.

The preferred general form of the iron is shown in Fig. 1, the ironbeing of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned Stevenson et al.application, and being adapted to be supplied with water from areservoir (not shown) attachable tothe rear of the iron, as disclosedand claimed in the said co-pending application. The iron comprises asole plate IB, a cover or shell II Vand a handle I2. It is also providedwitha Support I3, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and5 and as shown more clearlyin the said co-pending application. By means of such support, the ironmaybe supported in a tilted position during periods of non-use. Thesupport I3 is pivoted at I4, and a spring I5 serves to urge the iron toits tilted position in response to operation of latching means (notvisible) in the handle. The aforementioned structure is brieflymentioned herein merely because the present invention is particularlyapplicable to such an iron, although it is not limited thereto.

As shown in Figs.- 2, 3, and-1, the sole plate Ill is preferably heatedby means of an electrical heating element I6 disposed in a recess I1 andextending about the outer part of the sole plate, as clearly shown inFig. 4. Such arrangement is not new per se but it is here utilized incooper-ation with Vthe novel structureiprovidedby the present inventionas hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4, an inlet tube I8 is provided at the rearof the iron and is adapted to receive water from a reservoir (not shown)removably attachable to the rear of the' iron as disclosed in theabove-mentioned'cofpending application. The tube I8 extends into .a.larger tube I9 and is supported by the 'latter tube-as well as by theprojecting rear portion of the iron. The tube I9, which is ofsubstantial length, delivers the water through a nozzle Z'I'to a smallwater well or reservoir 22 formed in the steam chamber of the sole plateI0. The well 22 is provided with a raised bottom 22a (see Fig. 7) in theform of a very thin wafer-like element of low-heat conductivity metalsuch as stainless steel. This element is in contact with the metal `ofthe/sole plate only at its periphery, andV it provides ample heatinsulation of the Well-to prevent steam generation in the well, VaswillA be further .explained later. The nozzle 2| is so located in theWell 22 as to be beneath the'surface of the water therein when the ironis in use and'whenswater is owing from the reservoir (not shown).

The forward Wall V23 of the well 22 is provided with a central recess 24V(seeFig. 3) which serves as a weir and through which waterflows fromthe Well 22 to a serpentine or tor-tuous passage presently to bedescribed. The capacity of the Well 22 is such that any surging increasein pressure in the'steam chamber25, which might resultfrom a smallamount of water being splashed over the forward wall 23 becauseof'inertia forces as the iron is moved forward and backward, is morethan the nozzle 2| can pass'back into the tube I9 during the momentarypressure increase in the Ysteam chamber. In other Words,the quantity ofWater from the well 22 which could Vbe forced back through the nozzle 2|into the tube I9, because of any short-lived pressure'increase in thesteam chamber 25, is less than the quantity of Water in the well 22above the outlet opening of the nozzle 2l.

The trough-like Weir 24 communicates with the above-mentioned serpentinepassage which comprises a plurality ofstepped transverse passages 2",21, and 28 formed in an inclined portion 29 of the sole plate, thetransverse runs of the passage being interconnected -by grooves 39 and3|. As the water oWs through 'the serpentine passage, it is gradually'heated and vis vaporized before reaching the floor A32 of the steamchamber. 'The weir-24 is so designed vasto stop the oweof water from thewell 22 when :the'iron is tilted upwardly on the -support I3. It shouldbe noted'here that the ow of Water intothe iron is automatically stoppedat the reservoir when the iron is tilted upward, as disclosed in theabove-mentioned application.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the steam generatingchamber 25 comprises the small Well 22,the'serpentine passage 26, 21, 28and the floor 4area 32. The said chamber is covered by a removable plate25a which is removed 'in'Fign 4.

Returning to the water supply vvtube I9, it'will be noted that this tubeextends through an apertured wall 33 forming .part ofthe lsole plate,and the tube is supported vat its forward end by means of a slightlytapered ferrule 34 (see Fig. 7), one

end of which is flanged and is retained by a lip 35 which is formed byan upsetting or staking operation after the ferrule is inserted. 'I'hetube I9 is also supported by a washer 36 of low heat- 'conductivity.material fsuch as fbre, which is Vfrom being heated'to the boilingpoint. It is very important that .the nozzle 2l be kept cool, and thislis achieved by the structure described.

The steam vgenerated in the steam chamber 25 is emitted to the ironingsurface through a number of passages which are provided by theconstruction of the sole plate I0 and the removable plug 39. The latteris shapedfas illustrated in Fig. '6, having upper' recesses 49, acentral annular Arecess 4I and lower recesses 42all formed in its outersurface. .The sole plate is crcularly apertured to receive'the plug '39and cooperates with the plug to' form Vthe desired steam passages whichcommunicate withgrooves 43 (Fig. 5) provided in the lower surface of thesole plate.

The plug '39, vwhic'h'forms a part ofthe entire soleplate, is recessedat.44 to accommodate the end portion of the support I3. The plug is alsocentrally recessed to receive a bolt V45 (Fig. 2) by which it isremovably'secured to the sole plate proper. The head 'end Aof rthe boltis provided witha fiange L46 which seats against an internal shoulder 41lon the vplug 39. A pressed steel locking washer'48 serves to hold theplug and bolt together by "engaging v"the flange 46 and by bitingintothe'metal of the plug. The threaded shank of the `bolt threadedlyengages an insert 49 in the upper part 50 ofthe sole plate. By asuitable choice of -non-ferrous materials for the bolt 45 and the insert49, the possibility of the plug assembly becoming "'frozen is renderednegligible. r4It will be seen that when the bolt 45 is turned in adirection to withdraw it from the insert 49, the flange 46 pressesAagainst the shoulder 41 and thus forcibly removes the plug. Thearrangement thus provided reliminates the objection of priorscrew-threaded plugs which have had a tendency to become frozen'becauseof the deposition of soluble salts or minerals from the water on theengaging surfaces.

The construction'provided by the invention, as illustrated anddescribed, overcomes the aforementioned objections of prior vdevices ofthis type. The provision of small well or reservoir 22 and the'associated structure assures a Yproper and uniform supply of Water'tothe steam generating chamber and hence a uniform :supply of steam to thefabric being ironed, during use of vthe iron and when steam operation ofthe iron is commenced after ia period of use of the iron as a dry iron.The bottom element 22a inthe well 22 prevents any appreciable generationof steam therein since it effectively .heat insulates the well from the:sole plate proper. The rate of heat ilow through the side walls of thewell to the water therein is not sufficient to raise the water to theboiling ,point when water Yis flowing through the nozzle 22.! tothe well.and from 'the well .over'the Weir 24. 'When the iron is used dry, orwhen it is left in tilted position for a considerable length of timewith the current on, the bottom element 22a kwill attain substantiallythe temperature of the ysole plate; but the mass oi theV element 22a isso small that the total heat stored therein is dissipated almostimmediately when water starts flowing through nozzle 2l and drops onsaid element. A very small amount of steam may be generated in the wellunder such conditions, but the well is quickly lled with water and thenormal steam generation in the serpentine passages 2S, 21 and 28 and onthe iloory 32 of the steam chamber commences almost immediately.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the inventionprovides a novel steam iron construction which has the variousadvantages and features hereinbefore mentioned. It will be understood,of course, that the invention is not limited to the structural detailsof the illustrated embodiment but is susceptible to variousmodifications such as may be deemed desirable.

We claim:

1. In a steam iron of the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from a water reservoir, a sole plate having steamdischarge ports, a steam generating chamber in communication with saidports, a small water well in said chamber, said well having a, bottomelement engaging the sole plate with low thermal conductivity contact, apassage in said chamber between said well and said ports, and means forconveying water from the supply reservoir to said well, said meanshaving a small opening for discharging water into said Well, saidopening being disposed at a level to be below the surface of the waterin said well during use of the iron.

2. In a steam iron of the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from a water reservoir, a sole plate having steamdischarge ports, a steam generating chamber in communication with saidports, a small water well in said chamber, said Well including meanseffectively thermally insulating the well from the sole plate, a passagein said chamber between said Well and said ports, and means forconveying water from the supply reservoir to said well, said last-namedmeans having a small opening for discharging Water into said well, saidopening being disposed at a level to be below the suriace oi the waterin said well during use of the iron.

3. In a steam iron oi' the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from an external Water reservoir at the rear of theiron, a sole plate having steam discharge ports, a steam generatingchamber formed in said sole plate approximately midway of the length ofthe iron, said chamber being in communication with said ports, a smallwater well in said chamber, a passage in said chamber between said welland said ports, a, water reed tube extending from the lower rear of saidiron to said well in close proximity to said sole plate, said tubehaving a small discharge opening which is below the suriace oi the waterin said well during use of the iron, and supporting means for said tubeeffectively tnermally insulating the same from the sole plate to preventsteam generation in said tube While water is now'ing tnerem.

4. In a steam iron or' the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from a water reservoir, a sole plate having steamdischarge ports, a steam-generating chamber in communication with saidports, a small Water well in said chamber, said well including meanseirectively thermally insulating the Well irom the soie plate, a

passage in said chamber between said well and said ports, a weirarranged to feed water from said well to said passage, and means forconveying water from the supply reservoir to said well. at least aportion of said last-named means having a small-diameter passageway fordischarging water into said well, the outlet of said passage- Way beingdisposed at a level to be below the surface of the water in said Wellduring use of the iron.

5. In a steam iron of the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from a water reservoir, a .sole plate having steamdischarge ports, a steam-generating chamber in communication with saidports, a small water well in said chamber, said well including meanseffectively thermally insulating the well from the sole plate, aserpentine passage in said chamber between said well and said ports, andmeans for conveying water from the supply reservoir to said well, atleast a portion of said last-named means having a small-diameterpassageway for discharging water into said well, the outlet of saidpassageway being disposed at a level to be below the surface of thewater in said Well during use of the iron.

6. In a steam iron, a sole plate, a removable plug forming part of saidsole plate, said plug having recesses forming steam passages and alsohaving a central aperture With an upwardly-facing shoulder therein, asecuring bolt threadedly engaging a part of the iron and associated withsaid plug, said bolt having a head seated in the central aperture or"the plug and engaging said shoulder so as to forcibly eject said plugfrom the sole plate when the bolt is withdrawn, and locking means insaid central aperture for retaining the bolt head therein.

7. In a steam iron of the type in which water is suppliedgravitationally from an external water reservoir at the rear of theiron, a sole plate having steam discharge ports, steam generatingsurfaces within said isole plate in communication with said ports, arelatively long water feed tube extending from the rear of said iron tosaid surfaces in close proximity to said sole plate, means providing arestricted opening at the discharge end of said tube, and supportingmeans for said tube eiTectively thermally insulating the same from thesole plate to prevent steam generation in said tube While Water isliowing therein, said supporting means including a member of substantiallength surrounding said tube and having one end and a substantialportion of its length spaced from said tube, the said end of said memberbeing disposed in a recess in the sole plate and held therein, the otherend of said member engaging said tube and furnishing support therefor.

ROBERT O. STEVENSON. CHARLES ROGER TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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